SAM's Postgame Analyisis Preseason Thread #1

[SecretAgentMan]

I win,

We're going to need to find something to debate about lol.

The only thing I disagree with you is that you don't like the depth.

I like the depth, but I think keeping Die Hard is necessary. A good rotation is always good. Just look at the best teams in baseball. Most of them have a damn good pitching rotation to keep everyone fresh.

I think a good rotation is necessary, and when healthy McClain is a decent MLB

[beanfigger]

I win,

Nice. That actually made me smile. Good form.

[hawkprey]

Wait, why do we not want McClain anymore?

[5aiah]

I think it's very comparable from our standpoint. Just because you consider it a slap in the face, doesn't mean he will. It happens all the time. And I certainly don't think it's "crawling back" to offer him a job back when the spot re-opens. You're getting pretty dramatic. Not everyone reacts as emotionally as you suggest when business decisions are made in the NFL. People are cut and re-signed all the time, on every team. Anyway, go ahead and post another reply and you win. I have debates with a lot of people on this board, and for some reason the ones with you tonight are getting contentious. I tap out.

Yeah I expect the Ravens to be rational and not emotional. Also some people just have to have the last word in a debate so they feel they won. That being said I do agree that cutting him now just to sign him back later isn't an Ozzie move. I think we would just ride it out with our ILBs that we have if someone got injured.

[5aiah]

Jameel McClain wasn't exactly a pro-bowler anyway, at his best he was the definition of mediocre. I don't think he'll ever recover from his neck injury either.

He was mediocre, but a leader, so that kind of boosts his standing I guess.

[gabefergy]

That'll be him. This went way too far after an innocent comment was made. I can't let myself get caught up anymore in this nonsense.

That's right. At least you admit your defeat which is more than I can say about some members on this board.

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, I;m just playing around with the  "winning". It's ok to have different opinions. I feel very strongly about this situation though. 

[beanfigger]

Yeah I expect the Ravens to be rational and not emotional. Also some people just have to have the last word in a debate so they feel they won. That being said I do agree that cutting him now just to sign him back later isn't an Ozzie move. I think we would just ride it out with our ILBs that we have if someone got injured.

Again, not what I said. I never said I wanted to re-sign him after an injury. My argument was that he would still be available for us to decide should that situation arise.

[5aiah]

Again, not what I said. I never said I wanted to re-sign him after an injury. My argument was that he would still be available for us to decide should that situation arise.

My bad I was half following the convo and looked at what he was saying you said and was arguing against.

[beanfigger]

Wait, why do we not want McClain anymore?

It wasn't that we necessarily don't want him, but it was pointed out that if he doesn't recover, we could cut him under the "failed physical" clause and save $3M.

[beanfigger]

That's right. At least you admit your defeat which is more than I can say about some members on this board.




Seriously though, I;m just playing around with the "winning". It's ok to have different opinions. I feel very strongly about this situation though.

Understood. I don't, which is why I bowed out. I really don't care what happens with McClain because we'll survive without him, but could still use him, if healthy.

[5aiah]

Wait, why do we not want McClain anymore?

He is average, has no upside going forward, and we don't know when he could ever play again. The con is that he is a highly respected leader who knows the defense well and can direct the guys on the field. He is pretty much a thumper other than that and we have those.

[beanfigger]

Anyway, about the results of the preseason game, or whatever this thread was about...

[gabefergy]

Understood. I don't, which is why I bowed out. I really don't care what happens with McClain because we'll survive without him, but could still use him, if healthy.

I think we are a better team with him on the roster, whether that be PUP or active. If a situation arises that we are in dire need of cap space (I cant think of what this would be) than the first move is probably to ask him to take a pay-cut or an injury settlement. It's also possible someone restructures. Last resort would be a cut with a failed physical designation, and based on the Ravens organizational track-record I dont see that happening. Yes, I guaranteed it wont happen and I'll eat crow if it does.

[beanfigger]

I think we are a better team with him on the roster, whether that be PUP or active. If a situation arises that we are in dire need of cap space (I cant think of what this would be) than the first move is probably to ask him to take a pay-cut or an injury settlement. It's also possible someone restructures. Last resort would be a cut with a failed physical designation, and based on the Ravens organizational track-record I dont see that happening. Yes, I guaranteed it wont happen and I'll eat crow if it does.

I feel like it took us hours to get right back where we started. I'm going to bed.

[The Raven]

Just giving my two cents, McClain was trash all of last year. In 2011, I would have told you he was a good linebacker. After 2012, he's mediocre. He was absolutely terrible in some games last year.

[poescrows]

Restructuring doesn't mean he won't see the Money. It just means base salary gets converted to bonus and he probably ends up getting getting extended and making even more.

True, but the point of the post was that people keep eluding to Flacco's 120mil contract like he's costing the team 20mil a year. I was pointing out that it doesn't work that way.

[poescrows]

I think it sets a bad precedent and would go over very poorly in the lockerroom if Jameel was let go because he wasnt healthy. I'm not going to say it never happens, but it's kind of a fluke injury and by all accounts he has done everything in his power to get back and be available to play. McClain has been a leader on this team so just cutting him would be a mistake imo. I also think that 3M wouldnt just come off the books because he is injured. In fact cutting him is not allowed as an injury settlement has to be reached in this type of situation. I'm not sure what that means financially, but either way I highly doubt he is let go now. After the season is over it wouldnt surprise me, in fact I kind of expect him to be cut then.

Check out this article. It does a great job of breaking down all the cap possabilities. It eludes to McClain about 3/4 of the way down:

http://russellstreetreport.com/projecting-ravens-season-opening-salary-cap-status-version-2-0/

[poescrows]

Just giving my two cents, McClain was trash all of last year. In 2011, I would have told you he was a good linebacker. After 2012, he's mediocre. He was absolutely terrible in some games last year.

Add in the neck/spinal injury and you've got a guy who could be on a loooong road to recovery. I say cut him, gain the cap now, and should he get back to game form in a year (could be even longer), then make a bid for him.

[poescrows]

If that's true, I don't see any reason to keep him.  McClain has arguably the worst contract on the team.

See this linked story;http://russellstreetreport.com/projecting-ravens-season-opening-salary-cap-status-version-2-0/

[GrimCoconut]

I guess I'll post here. Sorry in advance for the long post. I tried to shorten it. I just finished watching my recording of the preseason opener. Quite a few things stood out both good and bad.

First I think the stars of this game were Adrian Hamilton, Asa Jackson, Daryl Smith, Terrell Suggs, Jimmy and Torrey Smith. The rookies who impressed me the most were Kyle Juszczyk and Brandon Williams.

Hamilton was constantly abusing the guy in front of him. Suggs looked extremely dominant like a DPOY candidate. Asa was Webb-like. Jimmy Smith gets a lot of heat but I've said it before and I'll repeat that this will be a breakout year. Same for Torrey Smith who I see as our #1 since last year. Juszczyk was a beast on ST and I liked his hands. He needs to work on his technique especially his use of hands. Brandon Williams appears to be another Ngata. I'm not sure how we re-sign Smith next year.

I have mixed feelings on quite a few other guys. LaQuan Williams is one of those guys. Yes he had some good catches but I'm not sure I'm ready to crown him one of our top four. I liked what I saw from Bynes but he and Huff really screwed up on the Crabtree reception. Huff played well and quiet. I have mixed feelings on Taylor because I felt like some of his early runs were forced. He improved during the game. He doesn't have the arm strength I would like behind Joe.

I was also a bit disappointed with Ihedigbo. I wanted to see more from him. He had a decent game though. Tandon Doss got open a few times but Joe didn't target him or Taylor threw it with some heavy rain. Lol. Deonte had a very average game and showed inconsistent hands.

Arthur Brown looked decent. He was slow mentally. I think he's still trying to digest everything and he's probably affected by the groin surgery. I'm not concerned. He looked physically fast and that's nice. Simon didn't look good to me. He's like most rookies; looked a bit lost out there.

Rick Wagner doesn't have the feet to play LT from what I saw. I won't judge his future there yet because a lot can change but he needs quicker feet. Elam in coverage remains to be seen but he looked really really good tackling. Very clean tackle. Mellette looked good in the limited action I saw from him. I'm holding out hope he does well like I know he can. I like this kid. I liked what I saw from Anthony Allen running the ball.

As for the bad Anthony looked terrible but so did Chykie Brown. I'm willing to forgive both. One game doesn't make a trend and it's possible Anthony could've been nervous. I liked his effort.

But in terms of worst game I'd give that ball to Tommy Streeter. He looked terrible. I mean terrible. He looked lazy. He had little effort. He caught one ball but didn't get much after it. I can't remember who but he could've blocked for someone and that would've helped them get more yards and I think a first down. The guy played like a bum. He was a bum. Worst performance I saw on the team.

I liked what I saw from Marlon Brown the most of our WR after Torrey. He showed effort and was good in the run game. He had some nice blocks. I think he can make the 53.

Where is the Cody talk??? He looked good. He wasn't getting blown off the ball. He didn't look fantastic but he was at least mediocre and I think he did better than some other bubble players on the DL.

I like Copeland but that interception was easy. I think Trawick is trying to get a job lol. I liked how he flew around the field and the athleticism he displayed to deflect the punt. Bobby Rainey showed his good return skills. I haven't seen Asa return yet this year but so far after this one game Rainey would be my #2 behind Jacoby at return specialist.

I really like this kid Moe Lee. I really want him to make the team. I've liked him coming out of college and I like him even more. That lateral was a boneheaded move though.

Furstenberg impressed me. I liked his body adjustment on his one catch. I hope to see his reps increase. I really want to see him get reps with the first team. Visanthe, while a concern, gets a pass from me. He's still adjusting to the offense. We'll see what happens but I won't judge him until the final preseason game.

As for our ILB situation with McClain I'm not his biggest fan and I think that's well documented but I can't see us cutting him yet. Too much uncertainty and if someone gets hurt we're potentially in a bind. It's just bad business. I think we would approach someone about restructuring before we would cut McClain. I think we keep McClain at least for now because of uncertainty at the position. There's a precedent for this with our CB situation back when we drafted Jimmy Smith.